EQ In The Loop Talk

[likitlikeyoulikeit]

I have run an eq pedal in the loop of my amps for years. Pretty much used the same look eq for years.

I cut everything under 120. And above 8k. Midly bump low mids, and lower 2k and 4k by 4-6 db.
I use a mxr Kerry king 10 band. 18v

The main question I posit....my main focus is 1k freqs.

How do you deal with 1-2 k?

I subscribed, for a long time, to completely notching out the 1k freq from the signal coming from the pre, into the power amp.

I run my mids pretty elevated, at the amp, for reasons.

Lately, I have been questioning my methodology, just because I do that from time to time.


So, how do you eq in the efx loop?

Do you also cut low/high and notch the 1k?

Also, am I nuts for doing it like this?

I know my ear, just trying to see if I'm completely devoid of sense and reasoning.

Also, I do play heavier gained up sounds, mostly.

Please give me all your efx loop eq takes .... I love tedious tone talks!!

(What made me ask, is all the users of mark series amps...and the deep v in the graphic eq)

Edit - after thought. I realized that my speaker and enclosures actually emphasize mid/bright freqs....this is why my setup is like it is....(I think.)

 

[laxu]

I actually ended up selling my EQ pedal because I felt that I got enough adjustment range from the "post EQ" of my BluGuitar amp. It's a 3 knob low/high shelf + 600 Hz midrange filter thing.

I'd say you are doing something wrong if you find yourself needing extreme adjustments.

The 1-2K range is basically "cutting vs honk". Too much and it sounds nasty, too little and it doesn't cut.

 

[likitlikeyoulikeit]

I actually ended up selling my EQ pedal because I felt that I got enough adjustment range from the "post EQ" of my BluGuitar amp. It's a 3 knob low/high shelf + 600 Hz midrange filter thing.

I'd say you are doing something wrong if you find yourself needing extreme adjustments.

The 1-2K range is basically "cutting vs honk". Too much and it sounds nasty, too little and it doesn't cut.

I wouldn't say "extreme", as it is just for amp shaping. But I am looking for a different perspective, so I do appreciate the info and insight.

I figured since I was pushing mids on the amp and drive pedals....that this is the adjustment post....

 

[MirrorProfiles]

Please give me all your efx loop eq takes .... I love tedious tone talks!!

bypass, get the amp sounding how you want. Try and get as far as you can with the minimum gear needed.

Beyond that, if you need to fine tune, just shape accordingly. If you’re doing a lot with the EQ, it’s likely the tone elsewhere is pushing things in the wrong direction and you’re just undoing what you’re doing somewhere else.

The mark is different because the eq knobs are before the gain, graphic is after. The MXR pedal above behaves different to the Mark graphics. It’s not really going to make it behave like an amp.

The best advice with eq is to think about what you are trying to achieve with it. Working any eq (especially with tighter Q’s) hard generally doesn’t sound great IMO. The more eq you use, the more broad you want those moves to be

 

[PLX]

I rarely touch 1kHz. Pretty much leave it at zero.

I always shelve errything below 60~80Hz, cut around 350~500 to eliminate mud, and boost between 2~5kHz.

I'll also boost between 8~10kHz to give a track some "air".

 

[likitlikeyoulikeit]

The mark is different because the eq knobs are before the gain, graphic is after. The MXR pedal above behaves different to the Mark graphics. It’s not really going to make it behave like an amp.

Pretty sure the the eq knob on the amp is the same here with the Laney.....and my eq is in the loop....so kind of the same.

Thank you for the response.

 

[likitlikeyoulikeit]

I rarely touch 1kHz. Pretty much leave it at zero.

I always shelve errything below 60~80Hz, cut around 350~500 to eliminate mud, and boost between 2~5kHz.

I'll also boost between 8~10kHz to give a track some "air".

Good to know.

Maybe my issue is I haven't played in a mix for awhile.....so all I focus on is the sound in my ear....but I generally don't feel like I get lost in the mix when playing with backing tracks ...but that's something different I suppose.

Thanks for the response.

 

[PLX]

Good to know.

Maybe my issue is I haven't played in a mix for awhile.....so all I focus on is the sound in my ear....but I generally don't feel like I get lost in the mix when playing with backing tracks ...but that's something different I suppose.

Thanks for the response.

Leaving off recording, on almost every amp I play.. I pretty much dial the Bass down to about 1~2, crank the mids and treble knobs to around 8, presence at 6~8.. but I come from the old school Van Halen way of running an amp.

 

[MirrorProfiles]

Pretty sure the the eq knob on the amp is the same here with the Laney.....and my eq is in the loop....so kind of the same.

Thank you for the response.

No, on the Laney the EQ comes after the gain stages and just before the master volume.

On a Mark series, the EQ knobs are before the gain stages and the graphic EQ is after.

Also, the bandwidth of the eq controls of the MXR EQ is quite different to the bandwidth of the mesa.

Essentially the amp circuit itself is shaping the signal the way the mesa EQ knobs would, and the amp’s eq knobs are more equivalent to the graphic eq (shaping the gained up sound). The MXR is just doing more on top.

 

[likitlikeyoulikeit]

No, on the Laney the EQ comes after the gain stages and just before the master volume.

On a Mark series, the EQ knobs are before the gain stages and the graphic EQ is after.

Also, the bandwidth of the eq controls of the MXR EQ is quite different to the bandwidth of the mesa.

Essentially the amp circuit itself is shaping the signal the way the mesa EQ knobs would, and the amp’s eq knobs are more equivalent to the graphic eq (shaping the gained up sound). The MXR is just doing more on top.

I stand corrected. Ok thanks.

 

[likitlikeyoulikeit]

I really do appreciate all the info from everyone.

So it seems I'm coo coo for co co puffs and my ear is farked .... apparently been doing it wrong for over 15 years....

It's just weird, because I've never had any complaints, actually the opposite....but I suppose I am now going to start from square one and do some tweaking and see what I deduce.

Thanks again for all the advice/criticism/info.... I am truly thankful.

 

[laxu]

I really do appreciate all the info from everyone.

So it seems I'm coo coo for co co puffs and my ear is farked .... apparently been doing it wrong for over 15 years....

It's just weird, because I've never had any complaints, actually the opposite....but I suppose I am now going to start from square one and do some tweaking and see what I deduce.

Thanks again for all the advice/criticism/info.... I am truly thankful.

If it works for everyone, it's totally fine. It's not like there's some "you must do it like this" rules.

But you can have an easier time if you don't need to use the EQ pedal to correct something that could possibly be handled by the amp. That's why I sold my EQ pedal - there just wasn't anything I wanted to correct.

 

[Humbug]

I really do appreciate all the info from everyone.

So it seems I'm coo coo for co co puffs and my ear is farked .... apparently been doing it wrong for over 15 years....

It's just weird, because I've never had any complaints, actually the opposite....but I suppose I am now going to start from square one and do some tweaking and see what I deduce.

Thanks again for all the advice/criticism/info.... I am truly thankful.

It's not wrong if you like it... Though, it sounds to me like you may be using the EQ to compensate for speaker characteristics. Try another cab?

 

[likitlikeyoulikeit]

If it works for everyone, it's totally fine. It's not like there's some "you must do it like this" rules.

But you can have an easier time if you don't need to use the EQ pedal to correct something that could possibly be handled by the amp. That's why I sold my EQ pedal - there just wasn't anything I wanted to correct.

I appreciate and understand this, I just try not to get set in stone with stuff......I have always run the eq in the loop of this amp.....and don't really like it without it.....but....I am weird about knob position and things like that....so I just added the eq to the loop on day one.

I'll spend some time over the next few days, and see what is what.

I feel that blowing things up and rethinking things, sometimes leads to good things and understanding. I don't like to sit in stone, so to speak.

To be honest, I was asking a very specific question...and it took in a different tone.....and made me feel a bit defensive about my approach, which is both good and bad.

I have plenty of experience with all sorts of audio applications, and thought I had a pretty good grip on things ....but many things have changed over the years ..... I just wondered how everyone else approaches stuff.

I do trust my ear. But I also trust others experience too.....so now....I am torn, to be honest.

 

[likitlikeyoulikeit]

It's not wrong if you like it... Though, it sounds to me like you may be using the EQ to compensate for speaker characteristics. Try another cab?

Sadly I have 4 matching 2x12s.....each with different speakers. One wired stereo.....

So until I can try a completely different set up....I don't know.

But I do believe this is why I do this.
The stock speakers were developed to be darker, due to the grill they used ....(Old ada split cabs)

These were very popular with the old rack power amp crowd ...and are very treble/mid heavy. Almost annoyingly.

 

[PLX]

Sadly I have 4 matching 2x12s.....each with different speakers. One wired stereo.....

So until I can try a completely different set up....I don't know.

But I do believe this is why I do this.
The stock speakers were developed to be darker, due to the grill they used ....(Old ada split cabs)

These were very popular with the old rack power amp crowd ...and are very treble/mid heavy. Almost annoyingly.

One of the great things about the times we're living in is.. we have impulse responses with microphone combinations.. endless. Cheap.

One can try literally a multitude of speakers and mics for pennies, these days.

Most players eventually settle on one speaker, and it defines their sound.

 

[likitlikeyoulikeit]

One of the great things about the times we're living in is.. we have impulse responses with microphone combinations.. endless. Cheap.

One can try literally a multitude of speakers and mics for pennies, these days.

Most players eventually settle on one speaker, and it defines their sound.

While this may be true for you, I don't even own a mic.....let alone a true interface.....

Maybe in the future. The wife and I have a show idea we will need studio equipment for....so I guess in a couple years I may get there.

I also hate DAWs, and have been considering going back to an outboard recording rig....just because that's what I know ...and I don't have the time to transition into this full digital thing.

I will take all these under advisement and do my best to put these into practice in the future.

 

[Humbug]

... but I come from the old school Van Halen way of running an amp.

 

[Rock Chalk]

This thread makes me think of when a woman asks "do these pants make my butt look big?" The answer is always "NOOO!"

j/k lickity........we all like what we like...........

 

[Humbug]

This thread makes me think of when a woman asks "do these pants make my butt look big?" The answer is always "NOOO!" View attachment 31840

And definitely not "Not more than usual".